Court reporter for The Age

A Hungry Jack's franchisee took the "risk" of refusing training from the fast-food giant until she had secured her own restaurant, a court has been told.

A lawyer for Hungry Jack's told the County Court the hamburger chain strongly denies allegations its executives did not provide Toni Collins with the training and support it had promised her when she took on the Wangaratta franchise in March 2009.

The court has heard Ms Collins only began training in January 2009 - two months before her restaurant opened - but barrister Adam Rollnik, for Hungry Jack's, said the franchisee did not want to undergo training in the months beforehand, until she had secured her store.

"As soon as it was done, that's when she went into training, but she took that risk," Mr Rollnik said in his opening to the court, according to a transcript obtained on Thursday.

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Hungry Jack's is suing Ms Collins, who was evicted by the company in October 2009, for more than $720,000 over the failed franchise, the court has heard. She has lodged a counter-claim seeking more than $350,000.

Mr Rollnik said before she was granted a franchise, Ms Collins had impressed Hungry Jack's executives with her past business experience, net assets of more than $650,000 and "savvy" negotiating skills.

He rejected claims her franchise was doomed to fail from the outset, as it was in the company's best interests for the Wangaratta store to succeed.

"The idea that somehow Hungry Jack's would proceed into this venture and rip someone who is not ready, put them in the store and then leave them is inimical to common sense," Mr Rollnik said.

Ms Collins told the court on Thursday she had given up on her dream of running her own franchise in January 2009, when she was called from a holiday to a meeting in Sydney and given an ultimatum over the franchise offer.

Ms Collins said on January 16 that year she met with two senior executives, who had copies of sales documents prepared for her to see but not keep.

Ms Collins told the court Hungry Jack's then chief executive, Tim Tighe, said she had to sign immediately if she wanted the franchise, but could not obtain her own legal advice.

"Tim Tighe was agitated. I was slightly intimidated. He said that was the deal, 'Take it or leave it' and I had to decide then and there," she said.

Ms Collins said she held concerns over the increase in rent she would have to pay the company and asked Mr Tighe for time to consider the offer, but was refused.

She said Mr Tighe told her there was good money to be made, but that if she did not want the franchise the hamburger chain would run the Wangaratta restaurant as a company store.

Ms Collins said she signed the contract and was then introduced to Hungry Jack's founder Jack Cowin, who assured her she would be given the training she needed to run the restaurant. Mr Cowin is a board member of Fairfax Media, owner of The Age.